Head of Special Forces Vehicles

James Fisher and Sons plc; Westhill; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Early finish on Fridays

Private Medical Insurance

Life Assurance

Cycle to work scheme

Company Pension

Job summary

James Fisher and Sons plc is seeking a Head of Special Forces Vehicles based in the UK. You will lead a global, multi-disciplinary team to define and execute the Special Forces Vehicles strategy, partnering with Country General Managers to drive growth and deliver excellence across home markets.

You will be accountable for financial performance, roadmap development, and ensuring mission success for customers while meeting long-term objectives.

Qualifications

• Proven international leadership with P&L accountability.
• Strong knowledge of the Defence naval market.
• Product management experience or strong understanding.
• Ability to build effective relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Strong commercial acumen and strategic business awareness.
• Proven track record of delivering long-term commercial value.
• Experience delivering budgets and people plans.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery.
• Proven leader of high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead JFD’s global Special Forces Vehicles product line, owning P&L outcomes.
• Drive profitable, sustainable growth by setting revenue objectives and priorities.
• Provide strategic leadership for the portfolio, supporting Country General Managers.
• Shape and deliver the Special Forces Vehicles strategy as a Defence Management Team member.
• Develop and maintain the portfolio roadmap, identifying trends and market opportunities.
• Ensure mission success by meeting contractual performance obligations.
• Deliver financial objectives via budget management and cost control.
• Champion HSE, sustainability and security for the team.
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and organisational requirements.
• Inspire and develop the Special Forces Vehicles team, building a high-performing workforce.

Skills

Leadership

P&L ownership

Defence naval market

Stakeholder mgmt

Commercial acumen

Negotiation

Strategy development

People leadership

Budgeting

Relationship building

Job description

Full-time, Permanent

Please note that this role requires security checks.

The Role

As a senior leader within the Defence Management Team, the Head of Special Forces Vehicles plays a pivotal role in shaping the direction and success of JFD’s Special Forces Vehicles Product Line. This position carries responsibility for the overall management of the portfolio and for partnering with Country General Managers to drive growth and deliver excellence across JFD’s home markets.

You will lead a global, multi‑disciplinary team to define and execute JFD’s Special Forces Vehicles strategy; ensure mission success for our customers; and achieve our operational, people and financial performance goals.

UK based

Full-time, Permanent

Please note that this role requires security checks.

The Role

As a senior leader within the Defence Management Team, the Head of Special Forces Vehicles plays a pivotal role in shaping the direction and success of JFD’s Special Forces Vehicles Product Line. This position carries responsibility for the overall management of the portfolio and for partnering with Country General Managers to drive growth and deliver excellence across JFD’s home markets.

You will lead a global, multi‑disciplinary team to define and execute JFD’s Special Forces Vehicles strategy; ensure mission success for our customers; and achieve our operational, people and financial performance goals.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead JFD’s global Special Forces Vehicles product line, holding accountability for financial performance and reporting on P&L outcomes as required.
• Drive the profitable and sustainable growth of the Special Forces Vehicles business by setting revenue objectives and marketing priorities, working closely with Sales and Marketing colleagues to deliver business goals.
• Provide strategic leadership for JFD’s global Special Forces Vehicles portfolio, supporting Country General Managers across home markets with product information, roadmap development and solution strategies to enable market growth.
• Shape and deliver the Special Forces Vehicles strategy as a key member of the Defence Management Team, taking ownership for its implementation and successful execution.
• Develop and maintain the portfolio product roadmap, identifying future trends, customer requirements and market opportunities while ensuring alignment with company objectives and strategic direction.
• Ensure mission success for our customers by consistently meeting or exceeding all contractual performance obligations.
• Deliver short- and long-term financial objectives through effective budget management, forecast accuracy and disciplined cost control.
• Champion health, safety, environment, sustainability and security objectives, with direct accountability for the safety and wellbeing of Special Forces Vehicles personnel.
• Ensure full compliance with all legal, regulatory and organisational requirements, supported by Legal & Compliance and HSEQS functions.
• Inspire, lead and develop the Special Forces Vehicles team, fostering high levels of engagement and building a resilient, diverse and high-performing workforce.
• Act as a delegate for the Defence Director, providing leadership and decision-making support in their absence.

What we're looking for:

• Proven leadership experience within an international business, ideally with P&L accountability.
• Strong knowledge of the Defence naval market.
• Product management experience or understanding would be advantageous.
• Ability to build effective relationships with senior stakeholders, customers and partners.
• Strong commercial acumen and strategic business awareness.
• Skilled negotiator with a track record of delivering long-term commercial value.
• Experience developing and delivering business strategies, budgets and people plans.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery.
• Proven leader capable of building engaged, resilient and high-performing teams.

Why join us?

• Early finish on Fridays
• Competitive salary and benefits package aligned with experience (Private Medical Insurance, Life Assurance, Cycle to work scheme, Company Pension, etc.)
• Clear pathways for career development and organisational visibility
• Inclusive and supportive culture that values individual contributions
• Meaningful work with impact across safety, innovation, and global operations

About Us:

James Fisher is a global engineering services company operating across Energy, Defence, and Maritime Transport. With a strong heritage in maritime operations, we now deliver innovative solutions in challenging environments. Our One James Fisher strategy is focused on building a unified, sustainable business within the Blue Economy, driving progress through technology, expertise, and collaboration.

Visit our website at: Home | James Fisher and Sons plc

For more information about our values and behaviours, follow the link: About us | James Fisher and Sons plc

James Fisher Defence (JFD), part of the James Fisher Group, is a global leader in underwater capability, delivering cutting-edge diving, submarine rescue, and hyperbaric solutions to both commercial and defence markets. Operating worldwide, JFD is the foremost provider of submarine rescue services and a trusted name in submarine escape training. We’re also at the forefront of hyperbaric rescue innovation and a leading supplier of advanced diving equipment and saturation systems across the industry. Explore more about JFD

At James Fisher and Sons

We are committed to taking positive action on diversity and strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer and recognise that our success is driven by the talent and diversity of our workforce.

To support an accessible and inclusive recruitment experience in the UK, we partner with Vercida. You can learn more about our approach by visiting our company page: James Fisher and Sons diversity, inclusion, culture - VERCIDA

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